Defender Francino Francis has today signed a new deal for the forthcoming 2016/17 campaign as manager Liam McDonald continues to build his Hednesford Town squad.

The 29-year-old centre-half is a popular face around Keys Park with him memorably being part of the treble winning side in 2013 before helping to establish the club at step two of non-league.

Francis, who has played over 100 games for the club, returned to the Pitmen in March 2016 and today admitted that he was aiming to get the club back to the National League North at the first attempt. He said:

“I’m happy to have re-signed for Hednesford, people understand that I know the club inside out.

“I wanted to make sure that we got the right manager in and for it be the right person – which Liam is. Now all I want to do is to get this club back to where it should be, in the league above.

“I have known the gaffer for some time having played with him for a couple of years at Barwell and Tamworth and I always felt that he would be a manager one day.

“He has already shown his management qualities with what he did at Redditch as they have had some really good seasons under him.”

Manager Liam McDonald meanwhile was looking to get the best out of a player that he believes will be crucial for the club in the forthcoming campaign. He said:

“I played in the same side as Francino at a couple of different clubs, with us being part of the same squad that won the league at Barwell.

“He has really bought into what I want to do with the club and is a very good player. We are working to a fitness plan in order to make sure he is ready to go at the start of the season as a fully fit Fran, in my opinion, will be one of the best defenders at step three.

“He has been working extremely hard already on his fitness, which is something that he wants to do, as a fully fit Fran is a really big asset for this division.”